Recency bias is a very real thing with media. It’s easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm and acclaim that surrounds the current hits. It's much harder to live up to grandiose expectations, especially when a TV show debuts to an exceptional pilot that introduces a compelling premise, only to unravel.
It’s a genuine challenge to keep a strong TV series at the top of its game and not steer it into mediocrity or force it to prematurely jump the shark. Unfortunately, there are plenty of modern shows that began with promising starts, only to hit diminishing returns and let down their audiences.
12 The Mandalorian
3 Seasons, 24 Episodes
The Mandalorian came out in a period of mounting Star Wars fatigue, but Dave Filioni’s action serial set a promising new precedent for Disney+. The first two seasons deliver exciting science fiction that’s a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, The Mandalorian’s own success became its greatest hurdle in season 3.
An interconnected universe pushed major Mandalorian plot points to The Book of Boba Fett, while the show’s third season was more indebted to setting up characters for spin-offs than developing its own story. A fourth season and a concluding feature film for The Mandalorian have already been announced, which will hopefully end the series with some grace.
11 The Witcher
3 Seasons, 24 Episodes
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski's book series and the best-selling video game franchise, Netflix's The Witcher is a gritty fantasy drama that follows powerful Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, and the deadly sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg. The Witcher starts strong with hard-boiled high fantasy that doesn't spoon-feed answers to the audience.
Henry Cavill, Geralt's actor, fought hard for the series to faithfully adapt its source material to little avail. The Witcher’s writing has steadily been on the wall, but the debut of lackluster spin-offs and the announcement of Cavill’s departure with Liam Hemsworth as a replacement doesn’t instill much confidence in the show’s fourth season.
10 The Terminal List
1 Season, 8 Episodes
Streaming services have become dedicated homes for military-based action thrillers, whether it's Reacher, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, or now The Terminal List. Chris Pratt stars in the Amazon Prime Video original where a mourning Navy SEAL heads on a dark mission of vengeance against those who are responsible for his family's death.
There's an emotional foundation that keeps The Terminal List moving, plus Pratt does a decent job as the damaged James Reece. However, the action and drama soon spin their wheels and The Terminal List largely feels reductive compared to its peers.
9 Halo: The Series
1 Season, 9 Episodes
Big-budget video game adaptations have become new A-list properties for streaming services. On paper, it makes a lot of sense to adapt the billion-dollar video game first-person shooter franchise, Halo, into a TV show. Unfortunately, Halo on Paramount+ ends up feeling like generic sci-fi rather than a passionate adaptation of its source material.
Bland characters and an over-reliance on regrettable CG effects really hold Halo back from greatness. The franchise's protagonist – Master Chief – is also completely different in the adaptation. It begs the question if the series even wanted to include him or instead just take advantage of his iconic design.
8 The Handmaid's Tale
5 Seasons, 56 Episodes
The Handmaid’s Tale, based on Margaret Atwood’s best-selling novel, was Hulu’s first big original series, which makes it all the more bittersweet that it’s gradually devolved into a parody of itself. The series is set in an ultra-bleak dystopia where women become secondary citizens to a regressive, fundamentalist male regime.
The Handmaid’s Tale first season is harrowing television, but it gradually turns into an endless exercise in punishment. Elisabeth Moss' June Osborne stays in Gilead long after it makes sense and the most recent seasons have pushed her down the path of villainy. Season six will function as the series' last and hopefully allow a sliver of happiness for its tortured characters.
7 How I Met Your Father
2 Seasons, 30 Episodes
Often regarded as one of the best sitcoms of the early 2000s, How I Met Your Mother found a way to put a fresh spin on the twenty-something friend group navigating New York City. Its 2021 reboot, How I Met Your Father, seemed like it might bring back the energy of the original show by keeping similar storylines and set pieces.
Much to viewers' dismay, this doesn't seem to be the case. Although it was renewed for a second season, How I Met Your Father's first season was poorly reviewed by viewers who criticized its writing, one-dimensional characters, and lack of originality. The show's takes on dating apps and modern romance are also stale in contrast to the original show's unique plot lines.
6 Bel-Air
2 Seasons, 20 Episodes
Another sitcom reboot, Bel-Air had some big shoes to fill. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a memorable, joke-filled show which featured a protagonist who felt like a fish out of water in a swanky new neighborhood. Although the series was predominately a comedy, there were potent moments of dialogue about race and class.
Bel-Air is considerably less funny, emphasizing drama above all else. While those grounded moments are needed, the show doesn't provide the same joy and laughter as the original. Without that touch of humor, Bel-Air isn't as dynamic or entertaining.
5 Invasion
1 Season, 10 Episodes
Apple TV+ has laid out some impressive science fiction, including the popular dystopian workplace comedy Severance. An alien-centric show in their slate sounded promising, but Invasion doesn't quite deliver the science fiction spectacle fans are looking for.
Bogged down by a confusing set-up and unexciting characters, Invasion misses its chance to create a unique show about the often overdone alien genre. Critics and fans alike were frustrated with the lack of coherent world-building and highly disconnected episodes that don't fit into a greater narrative.
4 And Just Like That...
1 Season, 10 Episodes
The original Sex and the City was a late '90s/early 2000s hit, showing different sides of dating and single life in New York City. The reboot, And Just Like That... , has plenty of nostalgia for fans of the original, with Sarah Jessica Parker returning as the unlucky-in-love sex journalist Carrie Bradshaw.
Despite bringing back some of the franchise's fun, And Just Like That struggles to translate its quirky tone into a modern version of New York City. The reboot suffers from the loss of Kim Cattrall, who decided not to reprise her role of the sexually-liberated, audacious Samantha.
3 Home Economics
3 Seasons, 42 Episodes
Topher Grace has largely stayed out of the spotlight since his memorable performance as Eric Forman on That 70s Show. Besides a stint as Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in Spike Lee's BlackKklansman, he's rarely been seen on screen. Grace returns to center stage as the eldest of three siblings ABC's Home Economics.
While the show's cast and premise have potential, making a simple sitcom that appeals to modern audiences is not easy. Home Economics doesn't quite hit the comedic tone it aims for, missing the mark and falling into tired tropes. As of 2023, three seasons have aired, but Home Economics still needs to increase its viewership and appeal.
2 Ratched
1 Season, 8 Episodes
Anytime producer Ryan Murphy announces his involvement in any project, it generates quite a buzz. His catalog includes the highly successful Glee and American Horror Story. Ratched tells the origin story of the evil Nurse Ratched from Ken Kesey's 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
With horror elements and American Horror Story fan-favorite Sarah Paulson starring as Nurse Ratched, viewers hoped the series would offer a fresh and intriguing spectacle. Despite its cinematic quality, Ratched struggled to find its stride or provide a compelling backstory for its main character.
1 Fear The Walking Dead
8 Seasons, 107 Episodes
The Walking Dead has captivated fans for over a decade, with countless spin-off series and video games adding to the prolific zombie franchise. Fear The Walking Dead released in 2015, intended as a prequel to the original series. Although the spin-off has seen some success with Walking Dead fans, it's struggled to stay consistent.